Improvement in mail-bag fasteners



G, H. PAYMAN. Mail-Bag Fastener.

No. 206,169. Patented July 23,1878.

fg /g $2 M UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cnonon Il. FAYMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT on ooLUMnIA.

1 j IMPROVEM ENT IN MAIL-BAG FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,169, dated July 23, 1878 application filed I December 19, 1877.

i To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon II. FAYMAN,

of "Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fasteners; and Ido here by declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of my invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refcrence being hadto the accompanying draw-. 1 in gs, and to letters of reference marked there- "I of newspapers, books, and similar matters through the mails. It may also be so mod lied as to be applied to letter-pouches, if de l sired. t

. The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a spring-lock, which is" applied upon the cord or strapby which the mouth of the bag is closed and secured, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fastening applied to a cord which is adapted to encircle the mouth of a bag.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the fastening, showing one-half of it complete.

' Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a: w

of Fig. 2, showing the oscillatin g. by side within the case.

In constructing this device a metallic case,

pawls side A, composed of the two parts a a, is employed for the purpose of covering and retaining in position the two serratedpawls b b. The parts of this case A are united to eachothcr by rivets or screws, as shown in the drawing, and are of the oblong form shown,

or of any other. which is found suitable to furnish a proper support to the pawls and other operating parts of the device.

The case is formed with openings 0 c at opposite ends, through which the cord or strap used in securing the mail-bag passes, and

, an additional rectangular orifice, (I, through which the thumb-pieces c of the pawls project. These pawls oscillate upon a rivet or screw, 9, which passes through them and through both sides of the case, and may be made to assist in retaining theparts a and a in their position with relation to each other. The inner edges of the pawls are serrated, as shown at h, so as to give them a firm hold upon the cord or strap used in securing the bag. each pawl, one end of which rests in the circular recess i in the pawl, and the other, after passing around the screw or rivet 0, bears upon the side of the case. The action of these springs upon the pawls causes the serrated projections h to bear firmly upon the cord or strap, pressing and'holding it firmly against the side of the case when not restrained by the thumb-pieces. The advantage gained by the use of double pawls and springs consists in the fact that either cord maybe retained in position or released, as desired.

The operation of the device is as follows: The twoends or a bight of the cord having been passed through the fastening from c to c, the pressure of the springs upon the pawls will cause their serrated portions to bight the cord and prevent its retraction, although they in no way stop it from passing still farther through in the direction from c to c.

It will, therefore, be apparent that when it is desired to secure the mouth of a bag provided with my invention, it is only necessary to slide the fastener as far as it will go upon the cord, and the work is done.

When the bag is to be opened, pressure upon the thumb-pieces a will partially rotate the pawls, causing their serrated portion to release the cords, so that the fastener may be drawnback and the bag opened. I

When the fastener is to be applied to letter-pouches the thumb-pieces may be left otf, and their function performed by a suitable key passed through an orifice in the side of the case, thus causing-the device to form an efficient lock.

Having thus described my invention, I clai n' as new, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, the followiu g A spring, 7:, is placed in the rear of A device for fastening mail-bags consisting of the case A, made in two parts, having end openings for the cords and side opening for ence of two witnesses.

the pawl-levers, in combination with the serrated pawls and the springs, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

In testimony that I elaiin the foregoing as my own invention I aflix my signature in pres- GEO. 1L FAYMAN.

Witnesses J. H. PARISH, J. M. DtIFoUR. 

